Sharon D. Allison-Ottey

Sharon Denise Allison-Ottey, MD, is an energetic and engaging speaker, author, health educator/physician and health strategist/consultant. She is executive director of the COSHAR Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that educates and empowers communities to increase health awareness and outreach.

Dr. Allison-Ottey completed a three-year residency program in internal medicine and a two-year fellowship in geriatric medicine. She received her medical degree from East Carolina University School of Medicine and is an alumna of North Carolina Central University, where she earned dual degrees in biology and chemistry with minors in physics, African American history and English with honors.

Dr. Allison-Ottey is an avid medical researcher with numerous publications and presentations. She was named the American Geriatric Society's 1999 Investigator of the Year for her pioneering work in AIDS in the elderly. Her current research interests include health literacy, patient/physician communication, the role of spirituality in medical outcomes, direct-to-consumer marketing's effects on physicians and patients and patient adherence/compliance with medical treatment. She serves on numerous commissions, advisory boards and committees and is a consultant for several Fortune 500 companies.

Dr. Allison-Ottey has appeared on Black Entertainment Television (BET) as well as other local and national television programs. She cohosted a radio program for several years and is a frequent guest on nationally syndicated as well as regional and local radio programs across the country. She's been quoted and interviewed by numerous print publications including Redbook, Essence, Heart and Soul, Jet, Ebony, USA Today, Black Enterprise and The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Allison-Ottey is a well-recognized and requested speaker for conferences, universities/schools, churches, corporations, community groups and other outlets.

In 2006, Dr. Allison-Ottey introduced a new genre to the world of fiction—"fiction with a purpose." This genre marries a fictional story line with health education. Her first novel, All I Ever Did Was Love a Man, received much acclaim and continues to make an impact on the lives of her readers. The sequel, My Breaking Heart, is due out in 2010. She also released a nonfiction, self-help book titled Is That Fried Chicken Wing Worth It?

For more information, visit Dr. Allison-Ottey's Web site at www.drsharononline.com.